Flush-tank valve.



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R. G. FERGUSON.

FLUSH TANK VALVE.v

APPLICATION FILED-EEB. 9, 1912.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914. l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wmme@ R. Gerguson traina/1go B.. G. PBRGUSN.

FLUSH TANK VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 9, 1912.

1,8'7,227. d Patented Feb.17,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ROBERT G. FERGUSON, OFLAKEWOOD, NEVI JERSEY.

FLUSH-TANK VALVE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented net. iv, rara.

Application led February 9, 1912. Serial No. 676,534.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT G. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Ocean and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush Tank Valves; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in iiush tank valves.

One object of the invention is to provide a flush tank having an improved arrangement of valve and means for opening it, said valve closing automatically and noiselessly when water is discharged from the i tank.

' Another object is to provide a discharge valve for flush tanks which is located entirely outside of the tank and which will be simple, strong, and durable in construction, efficient and reliable in operation, and well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a portion of a tank showing this improved discharge mechanism connected therewith, said mechanism being shown in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the valve embodying this invention and with the parts in normal position; Eig. 3 is a similar View showing the position of the parts when the valve is being opened or lifted from its seat; Fig. L1 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 1 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the lifting element.

In the embodiment illustrated a closed iiush tank 1 is shown which may be of any suitable or desired construction and in the lower side of which is formed a discharge opening 2 with which is connected the upper end of the valve casing 5 through which the water from the tank is discharged.

This tank which surrounds the valve communicates with the water main without any valve between them and is normally filled with water under the same pressure as the water in the main.

This tank is connected watertight at its lower end to a valve casing 5 being prefer ably provided with an internal screw thread which engages an eXteriorly threaded upper end of said casing 5. Above the thread on the casing 5 is a reduced eXteriorly threaded extensiony 6 having a shoulder 7 at the base thereof. The inner face orfwall of this eX- tension 6 is inclined to form a flaring valve seat 8 for a ball valve 9. This valve 9 preferably consists of a hollow ball formed of copper or other suitable material and havin a covering of rubber or similar materia whereby said valve is adapted to form a watertight engagement with its seat. The lower internally threaded end of a valve cage or guide 10 is engaged with the eXtension 6 and the lower end of said cage rests on the shoulder 7 when the parts are assem-v bled. This valve cage or guide 10 is shown in the form of a cylinder closed at its upper end and having a water inlet 11 near its lower end, the closed top thereof being provided with an air outlet or vent 12.

The valve casing 5 which is in the form of a tubular casting has a reduced tubular extension 13 at thel end opposite the eXtension 6 and in alinement therewith, a shoulder 14 being formed at the base of said eX- tension 13 and eXteriorly threaded as shown at 15 for a purpose to be described. The free end of the extension 13 is closed except for a central aperture 16 for the passage of the stern of a valve actuating member to be ,n

described. The periphery of this extension 13 is provided with a plurality of water outlets 17 the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. A cup-shaped valve 18 is mounted to slide on said extension 13 and when in one position covers the discharge outlets 17 and cuts oft the water from the closet, and when in its other position uncovers said outlets and permits the water to iiow freely therethrough. Thisvalve 18 has a centrally disposedY internally threaded outwardly extending nipple 19 which registers with the central aperture 16 in the eX- tension 13 for a purpose to be described.

A valve operating plunger 2O is mounted to move vertically in the casing 5 and comprises a shank or stem 21 having its free lower end threaded for engagement with the nipple 19 of. the valve 18, whereby, said valve is connected with said member 20 and is moved therewith. Art the upper end of the shank or stem 2l is a head 22 having an opening 23 extending transversely therethrough for the passage of the valve actuating shaft 30 to be described. rl`his opening 23 has one side wall 23a curved to form a cam wall and the other side wall straight as shown at 223" to provide for the turning of the actuating shaft in one direction and to prevent its turning in the other direction. it the upper end of this head 22 is formed an annular valve seatr 24: which is designed to support the ball valve 9 and by means of which said valve is raised and lowered on the raising and lowering of tl e member 20.

The valve casing is provided in one side wall with a bearing for one end of the actuating shaft and at a diametrically opposite point with an internally threaded opening 2Q in which is mounted a tubular outwardly projecting bearing 27 for the other end of the shaft 30, said bearing being preferably provided with suitable means for inserting it in and removing it from the opening 26, an annular member QS being here shown for this purpose.

'lhe shaft 30 has a crank 3l formed therein which operates in the opening 23 in the member :2O and when engaged with the upper wall of said opening raises the member 2O thereby simultaneously raising the valve seat Q4; and the valve 9 thereon and closing the valve 18, thereby, permitting the water to flow from the casing si through the aperture ll in the valve cage and beneath the lift valve 9, thereby, causing the latter to float upivardly in the cage, said valve gradually lowering as the water is drawn from the tank unt-il it comes into engagolnent with the seat formed at the upper end of the entension (l in which position it is held by the suction on the lower side ther'eof.

rthe crank shaft is provided with an operating handle 52 which may be turned at will to raise or lower the plunger or actuating member 20 and when said member is raised above described, to lift the valve 9 the Supplemental cup shaped valve 18 is simultaneously raised to momentarily close the openings in the extension 1T while the valve 9 is being lifted and floats to the top of its cage. las soon as the handle 32 is released it will drop downv-Jard thereby turning the c i :ik 3l and disengaging it from the upper wall of the opening 23 in the member 20, whereby, the weight of the cup shaped Valve 1 8 will cause it to drop down and uncover the openings in the extension 13 and ythus discharge the water from the tank to the pipe leading to the closet.

A coupling 33 in the form of a sleeve of greater diameter than the extension 13 and cup valve 18 is detachably engaged with the lower end'of the valve easing being preferably threaded thereon. This coupling is designed to be connected with the pipe which leads to the closet.

rl`he tank l is provided at a suitable point with an inlet passage E3 to which is adapted to be connected a water supply pipe not shown, whereby, the pressure of the water in the tank will be the saine as that of the water main.

By arranging this valve and its operating mechanism entirely outside of the tank there will be no danger of the parts becoming rusted or otherwise affected and thus rendered inoperative and they are also rendered readily accessible for repairs when necessary.

l claim as my invention:

rflue combination with a flush tank having a discharge opening, of Atubular valve casing mounted in said opening and depending from the tank, said casing having a ball valve seat at its upper end and located within the tank, a valve cage over said seat, a ball valve in said cage and adapted to rest on said seat, the lower end of said casing being provided with discharge openings, a cup shaped valve slidably mounted upon the lower end of the casing and adapted to open and close the openings in the same, a plunger rod extending through the casing, the lower end of which is detachably secured to the bottom of the cup shaped valve, a plunger head on said rod having a valve scat for engagement with said ball valve, said head also having an opening extending transversely 'therethrough and provided with a cam wall and an opposite upright stop wall, an actuating' shaft mounted in said casing and having a crank operable in the transverse opening of the head thus formed, whereby the shaft is permitted to turn 1n one direct-ion only for alternately opening and closing the valves at the opposite ends of the casing.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in 1 resence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT G. FERGUSUN. `Witnesses Wl. C. OLnanr,

Win E. down-xn.

Sonica of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Goninissioner ol 'etenta,

Washington, D. G. 

